Students Pick 2023 KSOM Professor of the Year
David Mahalak, D. Eng., a faculty specialist in the Operations and Analytics Department, was named the 2023 Kania School of Management Professor of the Year by student members of the University’s Business Club.Student members of The University of Scranton’s Business Club selected David Mahalak, D. Eng., a faculty specialist in the Operations and Analytics Department, as the 2023 Kania School of Management Professor of the Year. The announcement was made a luncheon reception in the Rose Room of Brennan Hall on campus May 11.
“My favorite aspect of teaching is the connection with students,” said Dr. Mahalak in a Royal News article published in 2022. “I do my best to create an environment of mentorship where people can share wisdom to help others see opportunities.”
In the article, Dr. Mahalak said he focuses on connecting students with educational and professional opportunities throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania. In addition, he has worked personally with students on supply chain management and process improvement internships.
Dr. Mahalak also serves as advisor to the University’s Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) chapter that recently earned the third place for state of chapter presentation and second place for the Gold Seal Award of Merit, which recognizes outstanding FBLA chapters in the state, at the 2023 Pennsylvania State Leadership Conference. Students also won individual awards at the conference and advanced to the national competition which will be held later in June.
Dr. Mahalak joined the faculty at Scranton in 2021. His areas of research interests include decision analysis, supply chain management, lean six sigma, process improvement, statistics and data analysis/management.
He received a Doctorate of Engineering in Engineering Management from The George Washington University, a Master of Science in Operations Research from Northeastern University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics with a minor in Secondary Education from Wilkes University. He has also completed master certificate programs at Michigan State University and Villanova University.
In addition to Dr. Mahalak, the business club students presented awards to several other faculty members. Ashley Stampone, assistant professor, received the Accounting Department Teacher of the Year Award. Aram Balagyozyan, Ph.D., assistant professor of economics, received the Economics and Finance Department Teacher of the Year Award. Greg O’Connell, J.D., faculty specialist, received the Management, Marketing, and Entrepreneurship Department Teacher of the Year Award. Vincent Rocco, faculty specialists, received the Operations and Analytics Department Teacher of the Year Award.
